General

These Legislators are Putting Profits Before Public Health (Denver, CO) – Today, The Marijuana Accountability Coalition (MAC) unveiled the results of the “Brought to You by the Pot Industry” campaign. This campaign sought to expose the top recipients of money from the pot industry as it works to become the next Big Tobacco. These lawmakers […]

(Alexandria, VA) – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a national organization dedicated to promoting evidenced-based marijuana laws and policies, released the following statement in response to a new report from the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) calling for the decriminalization of all drugs: “We cannot incarcerate our way out of our nation’s drug problem,” said […]

SAM Statement Regarding Removal of DOJ Marijuana Enforcement Barriers from Proposed CJS Appropriations Bill [Alexandria, VA — June 29, 2017]  “On April 4, Representatives Rohrabacher and Blumenauer, two Members of Congress funded by illegal marijuana operations selling pot candies to kids, wrote appropriators asking to include their pro-marijuana language in a base spending bill—and they […]

[ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 28, 2017]–A proposed government spending bill released today eliminated a provision that has protected the marijuana industry from federal prosecution for violating the Controlled Substances Act. The Rohrabacher-Farr language was eliminated from the Commerce, Justice, Science bill that funds the Department of Justice. In addition, the Financial Services bill retained language preventing […]

Statement from SAM President Kevin Sabet Regarding Marijuana Study Committee in Rhode Island   Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org (703) 828-8182   [Alexandria, Va.] –  Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) issued the following statement from SAM President Kevin Sabet in response to the passage of a Rhode Island bill to study the effects of marijuana legalization (H.5551): […]

Coalition of Concerned Citizens in Compton, CA Urge Attorney General Sessions to Stop Marijuana Commercialization   Leaders in Underserved Community to Speak Out About Marijuana Industry Takeover of Neighborhoods; Present Citizen Petition Asking Department of Justice to Intervene   (Alexandria, VA, June 12, 2017) – Today, a grassroots and broad-based coalition of concerned residents and […]

Tobacco Wholesalers Seeking Marijuana Monopoly   More evidence emerged today about the intent of corporate interests to take over the legal marijuana industry.  According to a report published in the Boston Globe today, the industry involved in delivering and taxing cigarettes sold in Massachusetts is now trying to take advantage of the new law to […]

SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet went live on NPR Chicago this morning. Take a listen to his complete rundown on marijuana policy (including legalization’s worsening impact on racial disparity, and why legalizing marijuana won’t make Illinois richer) here.

Statement from SAM President Kevin Sabet Regarding Marijuana Bill Veto in Vermont   Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182   [Alexandria, VA, May 24, 2017] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) issued the following statement from SAM President Kevin Sabet in response to Governor Scott’s decision to veto marijuana legalization in Vermont:   […]

Statement From SAM President Kevin Sabet Regarding Today’s White House ONDCP Budget Proposal   Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org (703) 828-8182   [Alexandria, VA, May 23, 2017] –  Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) issued the following statement from SAM President Dr. Kevin Sabet in response to the Trump administration’s budget proposal:   “We are relieved […]

[Alexandria, VA, May 19, 2017] – Today, SAM President Kevin Sabet was featured in an extensive Q&A for Asbury Park Press “@ Issue” in New Jersey. Click on this link or see below for more.   The ongoing effort by New Jersey Senate Democrats to legalize recreational marijuana took another step forward last week with […]

Statement by President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana on Congressman Garrett’s Support for Marijuana Commercialization              Today, Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national group promoting evidence-based marijuana laws, issued the following statement regarding Congressman Garrett’s proposed legislation that would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances […]

Statement from SAM President Kevin Sabet Regarding Vermont Vote Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182   [Alexandria, VA, May 10, 2017] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) issued the following statement from President Kevin Sabet in response to the Vermont legislature’s vote to legalize marijuana possession:   “We are disappointed by today’s vote […]

Slew of New Research Mounts on Failures of Marijuana Legalization: Pot Shops Linked to More Youth Use, More Crime, No Reductions in Drinking Over the past several years, states that have legalized marijuana have suffered from a wide array of unintended consequences. States with legal marijuana continue to see a thriving black market, increases in […]

Marijuana and the Opioid Epidemic: Separating Fact from Fiction   Advocates for marijuana legalization have touted cannabis as a cure-all for just about everything. Over the years, claims have been made that the drug can “kill” cancer cells, cure alcoholism and – yes – even eliminate morning sickness. So with the tragic rise in the […]

Colorado: New Study Finds ER visits for Cannabis Quadrupled Since Legalization A new study being released next week by the American Academy of Pediatrics has revealed more troubling consequences stemming from the commercialization of marijuana in Colorado.  Per NBC News: The number of teenagers sent to emergency rooms more than quadrupled after marijuana was legalized […]

  Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Reacts to Marijuana Lobbying Group’s Admission to Soliciting Donations from Tobacco Industry Challenges Top Marijuana Lobbyist to Answer Four Questions Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA, May 2, 2017] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a national organization committed to promoting evidence-based marijuana laws at […]

Don’t Let Anyone Tell You Youth Marijuana Use Hasn’t Gone Up in States Like Colorado According to official statistics, Colorado shows increase in teen use since before legalization; 18-25 year old rate and overall 12 and older rate also up Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA] – Despite claims to the contrary […]

New Study Finds More Marijuana Use, Higher Rates of Marijuana Addiction in States With Medical Marijuana Laws Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA, April 26, 2017] – A new study released today by JAMA Psychiatry found that rates of marijuana use and marijuana addiction increased significantly more in states that passed medical […]

National Leaders and Elected Officials Gather in Atlanta to Coordinate Opposition to Marijuana Legalization in America Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA, April 20, 2017] – Today, a group of national drug policy leaders, elected officials, and public health experts convened in Atlanta to coordinate the opposition to marijuana legalization in the […]

Marijuana Legalization Bills Defeated in Maryland Marijuana Legalization Proposals Die in Committee Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA, April 12, 2017] – Yesterday, an alliance of concerned citizens, public health experts, and safety officials soundly defeated two marijuana legalization bills in Maryland. The bills, which would have permitted commercial pot shops in […]

Anti-Marijuana Legalization Advocates Clear Major Hurdle in Connecticut Senate Marijuana Legalization Proposal Stalled Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA, April 6, 2017] – Yesterday, a broad coalition of public health experts, elected officials, educators, and concerned citizens made significant headway in the effort to stop marijuana legalization in Connecticut. Senate Bill 11 […]

National Organization Files Public Records Requests For Marijuana-Related Records From the State of Oregon Leaked Study Reveals State Violations of Federal Marijuana Guidance, Raises Questions About State Efforts to Provide Full Disclosure of Public Health and Safety Consequences of Legalization Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA, March 28, 2017] – Yesterday, Smart […]

SAM Action to Investigate Campaign Contributions of Signatories to Rep. Rohrabacher’s Marijuana Appropriations Letter Contact: Anisha Gianchandani anisha@learnaboutsam.org +1 (703) 828-8182 [Alexandria, VA, March 27, 2017] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM Action), a national organization dedicated to advancing evidence-based marijuana laws, announced plans to investigate all signatories to Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)’s […]